The 'Stark Trek' actor has warned fans that Pete Travis' take on the comic book classic is not for the faint-hearted and provides a dark and violent antidote to this summer's superhero blockbusters.

Karl told Total Film: ''It's not a film for bed-wetters. It's the perfect antidote to a lot of the superhero films that have come out in the last year or two. This is edgy. Really violent.

''Quite often in the comics there were graphic portrayals of missing limbs and splattered bodies. We don't pull any punches.''

The New Zealand-born star plays the title role of Judge Dredd, an all-powerful judge, juror and executioner who must take down a gang that deals a reality-altering drug in the futuristic thriller.

Following the success of superhero smash hits like 'The Amazing Spider-Man', 'The Dark Knight Rises' and 'The Avengers Assemble', Karl is optimistic the sci-fi flick could turn into a cult franchise and thinks there is huge scope for follow-up films.

He said: ''We're releasing the film and we're handing it over to an audience. If they embrace it, we'd love to come back and continue the story. The potential is limitless.''